PORT TOWNSEND — The scaffolding began coming down off the Jefferson County Courthouse on Friday.
A large, portable boom crane was used to lower portions of the scaffolding that has allowed construction crews to work on the exterior of the upper floors of the clock tower.
The scaffolding support beams dangling from the crane and lowered to the ground Friday meant the end is nearing for the clock tower restoration project that’s been underway since spring, said project manager, Gordon Ramstrom with county Public Works.
“The great majority of the external work has been completed,” Ramstrom said Friday.
“We’ll now be entering into the clockwork phase, putting all the networking and pullies back together.”
That entails reinstalling the 980-pound counter weights that hang 100 feet from the clockworks to the basement of the courthouse on the “striking” side of the clock, and a 380-pound counter weight dangling about 40 feet on the “time” side of the clock.
The clock is expected to be operational by the first of the year.
Ramstrom said the clockworks portion of the project is extremely technical, so unforeseen issues could arise.
Now that the major construction portion of the project is complete, neighbors who were originally concerned about excessive noise from the work are probably home free, said Ramstrom, who added they have been extremely understanding throughout the process.
“Knock on wood, we haven’t had much in the way of complaints,” he said.
The rehabilitation of the 124-foot clock tower was necessary to ensure the 114-year-old structure was seismically sound and re-enforced.
The project thus far has stayed within its $3.1 million budget, said Ramstrom.
“So far, we’re OK on the project budget, but we’re keeping a close eye on the additional costs,” he said.
“We just trying to slow it down and pull it into the barn,” he said of the project.
The lower portion of the scaffolding will remain until mid-January to give workers access to the inside of the tower and not have to enter the from inside the courthouse.